Moldova’s pro-EU party defeats pro-Russia party

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldova’s pro-Western governing party won a clear parliamentary majority, defeating pro-Russian groups in a weekend election that was widely viewed as a stark choice between East and West.

With nearly all polling station reports counted on Monday, electoral data showed the pro-EU Party of Action and Solidarity, or PAS, had 50.1% of the vote, while the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc had 24.2%. The Russia-friendly Alternativa Bloc came third, followed by the populist Our Party. The right-wing Democracy at Home party also won enough votes to enter parliament.